A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. It can be combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, and other tourist attractions. It may also offer a range of entertainment such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports. Casinos usually have security measures in place to ensure the safety of patrons and property. These include cameras and other technological devices as well as rules of conduct.

Some casinos have catwalks above the casino floor that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one-way glass, on gaming tables and slot machines. This is in addition to the many security guards that patrol the floors. These casino security measures are designed to prevent criminal activity and help keep the casino a safe place for everyone to enjoy.

The etymology of the word casino dates back to Italy, where it originally denoted a villa or summerhouse. However, it became associated with various pleasurable activities over time and not least games of chance. Nowadays, a casino is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

The casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City are famous for their glitzy decor and massive gaming floors where hundreds of slots and tables can be found. There are even discreet rooms for high rollers to play in private. Some of these facilities have paid out huge jackpots, with the most recent being a $39.7 million payout on a Megabucks slot machine at the Excalibur in Nevada in 2003.